Sugar Beet
Pulp

Soaked beet pulp

Sugar Beet

Sugar
beet pulp falls between a forage and a concentrate.Sugar beet is a root vegetable used as a source of sugar for human
consumption.Once the sugar
is removed, all that is left is the fiber and pulp.Molasses is then added before it is dried and shredded or pelleted.Sugar beet is similar in energy value to oats but the energy comes
from digestible fiber and not from starch, so making it less
‘heating’.

Sugar beet shreds should be just covered in water and soaked for up
to 12 hours.Cubes or pellets should be covered in 2-3 times as much water
and soaked for up to 24 hours.Sugar
beet should be freshly made up every day as it can ferment, especially in
warm weather.Horses can be
fed up to 1.8kg (4 lb) dry weight of beet pulp per day; this amounts to
about four scoops of wet beet pulp.Unmolassed
sugar beet pulp is now available, reducing the soluble carbohydrate level
of the diet.

Horseman's Comments: I personally do not favor feeding beet pulp. It does not
replace or compare with regular feeding of bran
mash, as some people
believe. The soaked beet pulp may be of use instead of grain to horses during a
prolonged stall rest, in which case I prefer to feed carrots. It can be
also useful in replacing grains or mixing with reduced grains for horses that may be too
temperamental or nervous during trail ride or performance. It can be also
useful as an addition to hay
cubes, there where hay is not available or too expensive. The beet pulp
has been in the last decade very much over rated. I believe one should
feed it only when it is truly needed. The beet pulp is known to choke
horses if not soaked enough.